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Amidst the ongoing great Indian Lok Sabha election jamboree of ballots and booths with a voter base of nearly 97 crore, lies a humble yet indispensable element — the indelible ink. More than just a mark on the finger, it symbolizes the essence of India’s commitment to fair and free elections.
Beyond its functional role, indelible ink carries immense symbolic weight. It signifies the solemn act of participating in the democratic process, a fundamental right and duty of every citizen. The ink-marked finger becomes a badge of honour, proudly displayed by voters as a testament to their contribution towards shaping the nation’s destiny.
APPLICATION
The purple-coloured ink is applied on the left-hand index finger — across the skin and cuticle of the voter, in a polling booth. Once applied, the ink cannot be removed by any chemical, detergent, soap or oil for several months. The ink is used in all elections across the country. The objective is to prevent the person from voting for the second time in the same election and to prevent any fraudulent practice.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In 1962, the Election Commission of India (ECI), in collaboration with the law ministry, National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), made an agreement with Mysore Paints, a Karnataka government entity, for the supply of indelible ink for Lok Sabha and assembly elections. The ink was first introduced during the Lok Sabha elections in 1962. Since then, it has been used in all elections in India.
SCIENCE BEHIND INDELIBLE INK
Indelible ink contains silver nitrate. It is a colourless compound which becomes visible when exposed to ultraviolet light, including sunlight. Silver nitrate used in the ink is caustic to skin. The ink dries out in less than 40 seconds and leaves a dark stain behind.
According to a United Nations Development Programme report, higher the silver nitrate’s concentration — say around 20%, higher will be the ink’s quality. After application of the ink, it can remain resistant to soap, liquids, home-cleansing, detergents, etc. for more than 72 hours.
“This water-based ink also contains a solvent like alcohol to allow its faster drying. The precise protocol for making this ink including its chemical composition and the quantity of each constituent is, however, not known to many people,” mentions the government’s MyGov website.
MAKERS OF INDELIBLE INK
It was during the tenure of India’s first chief election commissioner, Sukumar Sen that the research work on formulating the indelible ink was initiated in 1950s by scientists in the erstwhile Chemical Division and was later patented by the NRDC, New Delhi.
The indelible ink was first manufactured at the ECI’s request by the government’s Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).
After the ink was developed by the scientists at CSIR-NPL, the technology was transferred to Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited (MPVL), which has been the sole supplier ever since. MPVL was licensed to manufacture the ink and has been in the business since 1962. Earlier called Mysore Lac & Paint Works Ltd, it was established by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, the then Maharaja of Mysore, in 1937.
BEYOND INDIA
According to the news reports, 26.55 lakh bottles (vials) have been ordered by the ECI for Lok Sabha elections 2024 — the highest till date. A 10 ml vial can be used to mark fingers of nearly 700 people. India exports indelible ink to more than 25 countries, including Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, Mongolia, Malaysia, Nepal, South Africa and the Maldives.
